Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine cardiorespiratory responses during exercise tests as determined by the cycle ergometer in thirty-seven mildly obese patients, aged 28 to 69 years old participated [Body Mass Index (BMI); 28.1 ± 1.5 kg/m2] and 26 moderately obese patients, aged 20 to 67 years old (BMI; 32.7 ± 1.7 kg/m2). To evaluate the physical fitness, a graded cycling exercise test was performed, monitoring gas exchange, ventilation and heart rate. The following results were obtained: (1) BMI and percentage fat (% fat) had a positive correlation in obese patients. (2) The maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and maximum heart rate (HR max) did not change in either group, while the maximum oxygen uptake per body weight (VO2 max/W) in moderately obese male patients decreased significantly compared with that in mildly obese male patients (p<0.05). (3) LOAD per body weight (LOAD/W) in moderately obese patients decreased significantly as compared to mildly obese patients (p<0.01). (4) VO2 max, HR max and VO2 max/W at anaerobic threshold (AT point) did not change in either group. These results suggest that physical fitness would be relatively diminished in obese patients.
